STAGE TWO: The Spaghetti PhaseThis involves random scribbling and can take place on paper or walls or furniture.

STAGE THREE: The Potato People PhaseThe child draws people that basically look like potatoes with arms and legs coming out of the body. Eyes and a mouth are added at this time.

STAGE FOUR: The Stick Figure PhaseNow people have distinctly separate heads and bodies. Hair (sometimes really, really long hair), noses, fingers, and shoes are added. Girls may add, rainbows, stars, and hearts to their drawings at this time. Boys may add cartoon characters, blood and guts, or cars to their drawings at this time.

STAGE FIVE: The Macaroni PhaseThis is where macaroni, sometimes colored, sometimes plain, is glued to various pieces of construction paper. If you're extra lucky, you'll get a necklace made of macaroni for Mother's Day. If you're not so lucky, yours will be the kid who likes to eat the glued macaroni off the page.

STAGE SIX: The Book PhaseAt this stage, your child is excited that they're learning to read and write and they must make everything into a book. This is the second page in the famous book, The Friendly Ghost written by my son. This is where you have to really stretch your literacy skills and learn to read "kindergartenese". This says, " The ghost plays with his friends like the mummy."

STAGE SEVEN: The Picasso StageThe pictures and color choices don't make a lot of sense, but they sure are fun to look at.

STAGE EIGHT: The Almost Realistic Portrait PhaseHere, the child starts getting some realistic elements into their drawings. This is a picture my daughter drew of me after I had collagen lip augmentation.

Here's something from the Pokemon Phase my son went through.

Here's something from the Star Wars Phase my son went through. Again, note the realism.

STAGE NINE: The Three Dimensional PhaseHere is a candle holder made for me by my daughter.

Here is vessel made by my son. It's perfect for holding cookies, pencils, or organs from mummified people.

I'm so glad you reposted this one! I was thinking about it the other day and was going to ask you to replay it. My oldest daughter is currently in the potato people phase and I love it! I was curious to see what came next. Thanks again for the great reads every day!

Happy Birthday!! When I turned 29 I started to tell people I was 28 because 29 does sound like a lie. Now it is a big joke with me and my friends to celebrate my annual 28th birthday. In January I celebrated my 7th annual 28th Birthday.

So tell people this is your 2nd annual 38th Birthday and see if they believe you :)

Ha! I loved your art review. I have a whole box full of those interesting looking ceramic mummified remains containers from my two girls. And of course, they are hurt if you don't USE them every day for tea and cookies or whatever.